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Anyone with recent info on the driving conditions to get to secret canyon TH in Sedona? It’s been a few years since I ventured down dry creek/vultee arch rd. to Devils Bridge. At that time, the road was so rough, we ended up parking and walking the road. I have high clearance, but not 4wd. Thx.

@ddgrunning
We did it this spring, and this is what I wrote about it:

The road condition has deteriorated significantly since last I drove it, and I'm guessing it is probably very much on purpose. It was nice to crawl it in 4-low, and we stopped to help a kid get his jeep back on the road after leaving it dangling off the side of a steep ravine overnight.

Before I re-read that I was going to say that I think a person who is comfortable driving rough roads can make it in 2wd if they go slow. Clearance is a must, but other than the convenience of going slower I don't think that 4wd is a requirement. Maybe I'm misremembering?

There are some beefy rock steps to climb, and there were plenty of big trucks and jeeps that gave up on it well before the Devil's Bridge trailhead, so it's probably best if you plan on walking the road like you did last time. If you get there and the drive seems ok -- bonus!

I'd be surprised if the road has been maintained, or improved in any way over the summer. I feel like the FS is happy to just let this one go and subsequently limit the number of vehicles that can make it.

Aug 23rd 2017

joebartels wrote:FR 152 was the shock of the day. Once upon a time I scraped a Ford Escort down it, that would be difficult now with a tow truck. Apparently when they made the berm at the start years ago they stopped all maintenance and the jeep tour$ rejoiced. 4wd and good clearance now or 4wd and pray. There are some good sized steps now.

I've driven 4WD FR 213 to Peters/JF Trailheads in my 2wd tacoma a couple times. Unless FR 152 has improved from last year it wouldn't be doable without 4WD. Seemed the bad part of FR 152 was near the beginning but I could be mistaken.

From this summer [ triplog ]

From 2 years ago, there are some pretty big sized rock steps, and a real washed out section right before the Devil's Bridge TH itself. I'd recommend 4WD and some extra clearance. I can't imagine what happened to the road if people claim you used to do it in a Ford Escort. Maybe the jeep tours specifically damaged the road?

Years ago I was on that road with BobP in his Cadillac . True story.

@nonot
Sure seems like the jeep tours were involved. The depth the road has sunk near devil's bridge turnoff would take a tidal wave current to move so much sediment.

no photos from that 1999 hike

On a second hike that day in West Fork I dropped the film in Oak Creek. Okay I slipped and looked like the biggest fool around. The next day I decided to give up 35mm and got a 2.5MP digital. Digitals being quick, easy and painless I'm actually* glad it happened.

*pre BobP, can't make this stuff up

joebartels wrote: I've driven 4WD FR 213 to Peters/JF Trailheads in my 2wd tacoma a couple times.

That surprises me, is that after they installed the concrete ramp to assist with the search and rescue access...maybe around 2015?. It used to be about a 3 foot step right at the beginning that 4WD would struggle with if you were not lined up correctly.

@nonot It used to be “easily” done long before the concrete was added. There are others hazzers who drove stock 2wd trucks up it successfully. Plus the infamous Stiller video which is always worth watching again...!

I would like to see a video, you have a link?

ddgrunning wrote:Anyone with recent info on the driving conditions to get to secret canyon TH in Sedona? It’s been a few years since I ventured down dry creek/vultee arch rd. to Devils Bridge.

I have hiked a couple of times this fall on Dry Creek Rd from the Brins Mesa TH to the Vultee Arch TH, and I think that you'd need a high clearance 4WD on that stretch

@nonot

[ youtube video ]